Hi friends,

As Southern Utah’s Home Adventure Guide, I get asked all the time:

“What’s going on with the St. George real estate market?”
“Are prices going up or down?”
“Will interest rates ever come down?”
“Is a crash coming?”

If you’ve been wondering the same things—around the dinner table, the campfire, or the group chat—you’re not alone. A lot of people are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for a clear signal that it’s the “right” time to buy or sell.

I may not have all the answers, but with 16 years of experience, over 900 personal transactions, and more than 2,500 brokered through my company, I’ve got some hard-earned perspective to share.

Let’s talk about what’s really happening—and what it means for you.

INVENTORY IS AT A 10-YEAR HIGH

As of this writing, there are 1,743 homes for sale in Washington County. We haven’t seen this much inventory since spring of 2015. That’s great news for buyers—more choices, more leverage.

Compare that to last fall, when inventory hovered around 1,200 homes. The pace of sales hasn’t changed much (1,374 homes sold YTD through April 30 vs. 1,335 during the same period last year), but new listings are flooding the market—2,642 so far this year compared to 2,266 in 2024.

So why haven’t prices dropped?
Because demand is still here. Prices are holding steady—up 1.38% year-over-year. The median sales price is now $515,000, up from $508,000.

In plain terms:

  • Inventory is up

  • Sales are steady

  • Prices are stable
    = A rare window of opportunity

SO… IS IT A GOOD TIME TO BUY OR SELL?

Yes. And yes.
The “right time” is when it makes sense for you—your family, your goals, your life. Timing the market is nearly impossible.

But I do know this:
I wish I had bought more real estate the last time inventory looked like this.

You probably have your own stories of opportunities missed. Like Michael Jordan said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

ST. GEORGE: A MARKET (AND A LANDSCAPE) LIKE NO OTHER

Southern Utah is still growing—and for good reason. We’ve got beauty, adventure, strong community values, and a quality of life that’s hard to match. Where else can you ski, climb, boat, golf, see a national park, and attend a concert all in one weekend?

Even with a few more cars on River Road, this still feels like a small town. But here’s the reality:

We’re running out of land.

Developers are scraping the bottom of the barrel—building on lava flows and blue clay hillsides. I remember when Santa Clara had to abandon a road and condemn houses because of shifting blue clay. Or the old Dairy Queen on Bluff Street, where the hill moved so much it warped the drive-thru lane.

You know we’re in a different era when even ancient lava beds are fair game for housing.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

  • Buying? It’s a smart time to make your move—inventory like this doesn’t last.

  • Selling? Prices are still near all-time highs. If life is leading you to move, don’t wait.

  • Investing? I help clients build wealth through long-term rentals, short-term rentals, spec homes, flips, and developments—and I invest right alongside them.

If you’ve got questions or ideas, I’m here to help.
If you have a home you need to sell fast, I’ll help you market it—or I’ll buy it myself.

Real estate is one long, real-life game of Monopoly. When you understand the rules and play with the right strategy, it can be an incredible game.
Just make sure you’re playing with people who help you enjoy it—so you’re not tempted to flip the board and storm out of the room.

Let’s talk.

—
Joe Allen
Southern Utah’s Home Adventure Guide
Real Estate Broker | Investor | 900+ Deals Closed
Realty Absolute
321 N. Mall Drive, Bldg. C
St. George, UT 84790
(435) 773-3870
Joe@RealtyAbsolute.com
www.RealtyAbsolute.com

P.S.
As much as I love talking real estate, I also want to share a bit about what’s going on in my life these days. In just three weeks, I’m tackling the Scout Mountain 100-mile ultra marathon—my biggest running challenge yet! Training has been intense, but I’m excited for the adventure.

This summer, I’m also planning to spend quality time on Lake Powell with friends and family, soaking in the sun, boating, and relaxing. And of course, I’ll be climbing plenty of rocks around Southern Utah—because what’s better than combining fitness and fun in one of the most beautiful places on earth?

Thanks for letting me share a little about my life outside the real estate world. If you ever want to chat about running, climbing, or local adventures — or, of course, buying or selling a home — I’m just a call or email away!